U.S. patent application number 15/402623 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-31 for generator and mobile device having the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is University-Industry Cooperation Group of Kyung Hee University. Invention is credited to Dukhyun CHOI, Wook KIM.
Application Number | 20180149143 15/402623 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62193205 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180149143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; Dukhyun ; et
al. |
May 31, 2018 |
GENERATOR AND MOBILE DEVICE HAVING THE SAME
Abstract
A generator is provided. The generator includes a barrel rotated
by being applied with a driving force from an external force, a
converter applied with a torque of the barrel to rotate a rotating
shaft at a constant rotation speed; and an electrostatic generator
driven by being applied with the torque from the rotation
shaft.
Inventors: |
CHOI; Dukhyun; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Wook; (Yongin-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
University-Industry Cooperation Group of Kyung Hee
University |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
62193205 |
Appl. No.: |
15/402623 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/74 20130101;
F03D 9/25 20160501; H02N 1/08 20130101; Y02E 10/72 20130101; F03D
15/10 20160501; H02K 7/183 20130101; F03D 3/00 20130101; F03G 7/08
20130101; H02K 7/116 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F03G 7/08 20060101
F03G007/08; H02N 1/08 20060101 H02N001/08; F03D 3/00 20060101
F03D003/00; F03D 9/00 20060101 F03D009/00; F03D 9/25 20060101
F03D009/25 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0158244 |
Claims
1. A generator, comprising: a barrel rotated by being applied with
driving power from the outside; a converter applied with a torque
of the barrel to rotate a rotating shaft at a constant rotation
speed; and an electrostatic generator driven by being applied with
the torque from the rotation shaft.
2. The generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter
includes: a plurality of gear sets disposed within the barrel to be
connected to the rotation shaft and having different gear ratios;
and a plurality of connection members selectively connecting
between any one of the plurality of gear sets and the barrel.
3. The generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of
gear sets include first and second gear sets, the first gear set
includes a first sun gear coupled with the rotation shaft, a
plurality of first planetary gears meshed with the first sun gear,
and a first ring gear meshed with the plurality of first planetary
gears, and the second gear set includes a second sun gear coupled
with the rotation shaft and a second ring gear meshed with the
second sun gear.
4. The generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and
second ring gears are an internal gear having the same diameter and
the first sun gear, the second sun gear, and the first planetary
gear are a spur gear having different diameters and wherein the
first gear set includes a first carrier with which the plurality of
first planetary gears each are rotatably coupled and the first
carrier is fixed to an outside of the barrel.
5. The generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of
gear sets further include a third gear set including a third sun
gear coupled with the rotation shaft, a plurality of third
planetary gears meshed with the third sun gear, and a third ring
gear meshed with the plurality of third planetary gears, the third
ring gear is an internal gear having the same diameter as the first
and second ring gears, and the third sun gear and the third
planetary gear are a spur gear having a diameter different from
that of the first sun gear, the second sun gear, and the first
planetary gear.
6. The generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of
connection members include first and second connection members
coupled with the barrel and the first and second connection members
move in a first direction toward the rotation shaft to be coupled
with the first and second ring gears and move in a second direction
opposite to the first direction to be separated from the first and
second ring gears.
7. The generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and
second connection members each include coupling grooves
corresponding to shapes of outer circumferential portions of the
first and second ring gears.
8. The generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the barrel has a
cylindrical shape and includes a plurality of slots formed on an
outer circumferential surface thereof and the plurality of slots
each are movably inserted with the first and second connection
members in the first direction and the second direction.
9. The generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first
connection member is configured in plural to be disposed along the
outer circumferential surface of the barrel at the same interval
and the second connection member is configured in plural to be
disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the barrel at
the same interval.
10. The generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and
second gear sets are made of a metal material and the first and
second connection members are made of a urethane material and
fitted in the outer circumferential portions of the first and
second ring gears, respectively.
11. The generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the converter
further includes a driver applying a force to the first and second
connection members so that the first and second connection members
move in different directions.
12. The generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driver
includes: first and second magnets coupled with the first and
second connection members, respectively; and first and second
electromagnets applying a magnetic force to the first and second
magnets.
13. The generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driver
includes: first and second pressing members moving in the first
direction to press the first and second connection members; first
and second magnets coupled with the first and second pressing
members; first and second electromagnets applying a magnetic force
to the first and second magnets; first and second elastic members
applying a force to the first and second pressing members so that
the first and second pressing members moving in the first direction
return to the second direction; and a first seesaw member whose
both ends are pivotably connected to the first and second
connection members and the seesaw member applies a force to the
other of the first and second connection members in a direction
opposite to a direction of a force applied to any one of the first
and second connection members.
14. The generator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of
gear sets further include a third gear set that includes a third
sun gear coupled with the rotation shaft, a plurality of third
planetary gears meshed with the third sun gear, and a third ring
gear meshed with the plurality of third planetary gears, the
plurality of connection members further includes a third connection
member that moves in the first direction while being coupled with
the barrel to be coupled with the third ring gear and moves in the
second direction to be separated from the third ring gear, and the
driver further includes a second seesaw member whose both ends are
pivotably connected to the second and third connection members.
15. The generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the converter
includes: a first sensor measuring the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft; and a controller controlling the driver to rotate
the rotation shaft at a constant rotation speed depending on the
rotation speed measured by the first sensor.
16. The generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the converter
further includes a second sensor measuring an output voltage of the
electrostatic generator and the controller controls the driver
depending on an output voltage measured by the second sensor.
17. The generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
case; a rack gear disposed within the case; a swing member movably
supporting the rack gear; and a pinion gear coupled with the barrel
to be meshed with the rack gear.
18. The generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
driving shaft coupled with the barrel; and an impeller connected to
the driving shaft.
19. The generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrostatic
generator includes: a first charging plate rotated while being
coupled with the rotation shaft and including a plurality of first
charged bodies disposed on one surface thereof; and a second
charging plate whose one surface is provided with a plurality of
second charged bodies disposed to contact or be adjacent to the
plurality of first charged bodies.
20. A mobile device, comprising: a main body including a battery;
and a generator disposed within the main body to apply electric
power to the battery, wherein the generator includes: a barrel
rotated by being applied with a driving force from the main body
shaken by an external force; a converter applied with a torque of
the barrel to rotate a rotating shaft at a constant rotation speed;
and an electrostatic generator driven by being applied with the
torque from the rotation shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2016-0158244, filed on Nov. 25, 2016 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present
disclosure relate to a generator capable of stably producing
required electric power and a mobile device having the same.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] There is a disadvantage in that the typical generators that
produce electric power using thermal energy generated by burning
fossil fuels discharge pollutants during the power generation.
[0004] As substitutes for the fossil fuels, eco-friendly generators
using solar power, water power, wind power, or the like that exist
in nature have been widely used. However, there is a limitation in
that the existing solar power, water power, and wind power
generators cannot but be manufactured in a large size in
consideration of power generation efficiency and installation
cost.
[0005] In recent years, energy harvesting technology capable of
utilizing abandoned energy existing not only in nature but also in
the living environment has been developed. Generators adopting the
energy harvesting technology produce electric power by utilizing a
piezoelectric effect that generates a voltage by applying a
physical pressure, an electrostatic effect that generates a voltage
by friction charging, and a thermoelectric effect that flows a
current through a temperature difference, etc., or produce electric
power by utilizing vibration energy that is generated from a motion
of a human body, vibration and heat generated from roads or railway
lines with a high traffic volume of vehicles and trains, etc.
However, the typical generators adopting the energy harvesting
technology have difficulty in continuously producing the required
constant generation when an inflow amount of energy from the
outside is not uniform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the
above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above.
Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the
disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may not overcome any of the problems described
above.
[0007] The present disclosure provides a generator capable of
uniformly producing required electric power by utilizing energy
existing at the outside as driving power and a mobile device having
the same.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a
generator includes: a barrel rotated by being applied with driving
power from the outside; a converter applied with a torque of the
barrel to rotate a rotating shaft at a constant rotation speed; and
an electrostatic generator driven by being applied with the torque
from the rotation shaft.
[0009] The converter may include: a plurality of gear sets disposed
within the barrel to be connected to the rotation shaft and having
different gear ratios; and a plurality of connection members
selectively connecting between any one of the plurality of gear
sets and the barrel.
[0010] The plurality of gear sets may include first and second gear
sets, the first gear set may include a first sun gear coupled with
the rotation shaft, a plurality of first planetary gears meshed
with the first sun gear, and a first ring gear meshed with the
plurality of first planetary gears, and the second gear set may
include a second sun gear coupled with the rotation shaft and a
second ring gear meshed with the second sun gear.
[0011] The first and second ring gears may be an internal gear
having the same diameter and the first sun gear, the second sun
gear, and the first planetary gear may be a spur gear having
different diameters.
[0012] The first gear set may include a first carrier with which
the plurality of first planetary gears each are rotatably coupled
and the first carrier may be fixed to an outside of the barrel.
[0013] The plurality of gear sets may further include a third gear
set including a third sun gear coupled with the rotation shaft, a
plurality of third planetary gears meshed with the third sun gear,
and a third ring gear meshed with the plurality of third planetary
gears, the third ring gear may be an internal gear having the same
diameter as the first and second ring gears, and the third sun gear
and the third planetary gear may be a spur gear having a diameter
different from that of the first sun gear, the second sun gear, and
the first planetary gear.
[0014] The third gear set may further include a third carrier with
which the plurality of third planetary gears each are rotatably
coupled, and the third carrier may be fixed to the outside of the
barrel.
[0015] The plurality of connection members may include first and
second connection members coupled with the barrel, and the first
and second connection members may move in a first direction toward
the rotation shaft to be coupled with the first and second ring
gears and move in a second direction opposite to the first
direction to be separated from the first and second ring gears.
[0016] The first and second connection members may each include
coupling grooves corresponding to shapes of outer circumferential
portions of the first and second ring gears.
[0017] The first and second connection members may have an arch
shape having the same curvature as that of the outer
circumferential portions of the first and second ring gears.
[0018] The barrel may have a cylindrical shape and include a
plurality of slots formed on an outer circumferential surface
thereof, and the plurality of slots may each be movably inserted
with the first and second connection members in the first direction
and the second direction.
[0019] The first connection member may be configured in plural to
be disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the barrel
at the same interval, and the second connection member may be
configured in plural to be disposed along the outer circumferential
surface of the barrel at the same interval.
[0020] The first and second gear sets may be made of a metal
material, and the first and second connection members may be made
of a urethane material and fitted in the outer circumferential
portions of the first and second ring gears, respectively.
[0021] The converter may further include a driver applying a force
to the first and second connection members so that the first and
second connection members move in different directions.
[0022] The driver may include: first and second magnets coupled
with the first and second connection members, respectively; and
first and second electromagnets applying a magnetic force to the
first and second magnets.
[0023] The driver may include: first and second pressing members
moving in the first direction to press the first and second
connection members; first and second magnets coupled with the first
and second pressing members; and first and second electromagnets
applying a magnetic force to the first and second magnets.
[0024] The driver may include first and second elastic members
applying a force to the first and second pressing members so that
the first and second pressing members moving in the first direction
return to the second direction.
[0025] The driver may further include a first seesaw member whose
both ends are pivotably connected to the first and second
connection members, and the seesaw member may apply a force to the
other of the first and second connection members in a direction
opposite to a direction of a force applied to any one of the first
and second connection members.
[0026] The plurality of gear sets may further include a third gear
set that includes a third sun gear coupled with the rotation shaft,
a plurality of third planetary gears meshed with the third sun
gear, and a third ring gear meshed with the plurality of third
planetary gears, the plurality of connection members may further
include a third connection member that moves in the first direction
while being coupled with the barrel to be coupled with the third
ring gear and moves in the second direction to be separated from
the third ring gear, and the driver may further include a second
seesaw member whose both ends are pivotably connected to the second
and third connection members.
[0027] The converter may include: a first sensor measuring the
rotation speed of the rotation shaft; and a controller controlling
the driver to rotate the rotation shaft at a constant rotation
speed depending on the rotation speed measured by the first
sensor.
[0028] The converter may further include a second sensor measuring
an output voltage of the electrostatic generator, and the
controller may control the driver depending on an output voltage
measured by the second sensor.
[0029] The generator may further include: a case; a rack gear
disposed within the case; a swing member movably supporting the
rack gear; and a pinion gear coupled with the barrel to be meshed
with the rack gear.
[0030] The generator may further include: a driving shaft coupled
with the barrel; and an impeller connected to the driving
shaft.
[0031] The electrostatic generator may include: a first charging
plate rotated while being coupled with the rotation shaft and
including a plurality of first charged bodies disposed on one
surface thereof; and a second charging plate whose one surface is
provided with a plurality of second charged bodies disposed to
contact or be adjacent to the plurality of first charged
bodies.
[0032] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
mobile device includes: a main body including a battery; and a
generator disposed within the main body to apply electric power to
the battery, in which the generator may include: a barrel rotated
by being applied with a driving force from the main body shaken by
an external force; a converter applied with a torque of the barrel
to rotate a rotating shaft at a constant rotation speed; and an
electrostatic generator driven by being applied with the torque
from the rotation shaft.
[0033] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, even though the generator is applied with the
non-uniform driving power from the outside, the generator may use
the converter to provide the uniform driving power to the
electrostatic generator, thereby stably producing the required
electric power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0034] The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will
be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a
configuration of a generator according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the generator
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the generator
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of detailed
components of a barrel, a converter, and an electrostatic generator
of a generator illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the barrel, the
converter, and the electrostatic generator of the generator
illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0040] FIGS. 6 to 8 are an enlarged cross-sectional view
illustrating an operation of the converter illustrated in FIG.
5;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile device
including the generator according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a generator
according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the generator
illustrated in FIG. 10;
[0044] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a part of a vehicle with
which a generator according to still another exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure is coupled; and
[0045] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the generator
illustrated in FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The following exemplary embodiments will be described
based on exemplary embodiments most appropriate to understand
technical features of the present disclosure and the technical
features of the present disclosure are not limited to the exemplary
embodiments to be described below but it is illustrated that the
present disclosure may be implemented like exemplary embodiments to
be described.
[0047] Therefore, the present disclosure may be variously changed
within the technical scope of the present disclosure in accordance
with the exemplary embodiments to be described below and the
changed exemplary embodiments may be considered to be included in
the technical scope of the present disclosure. Further, to help
understand the following exemplary embodiments, in signs described
in the accompanying drawing, relevant components among components
performing the same operations in each exemplary embodiment are
denoted by reference numerals on the same or extending line.
[0048] Further, terms used for describing exemplary embodiments,
`first`, `second`, etc. can be used to describe various components,
but the components are not to be construed as being limited to the
terms. These terms may be used to differentiate one component from
other components. For example, the `first` component may be named
the `second` component and the `second` component may also be
similarly named the `first` component, without departing from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0049] Further, a generator according various exemplary embodiments
of the present disclosure described with reference to the
accompanying drawings is not limited in its size and sizes or
thicknesses of each component configuring the generator may be
exaggerated for clarity of description.
[0050] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a
configuration of a generator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, the generator 1 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a barrel 10
rotating by being applied with driving power from the outside, a
converter 20 applied with a torque of the barrel 10 to rotate a
rotation shaft S at a predetermined rotation speed, and an
electrostatic generator 30 driven by being applied with a torque
from the rotation shaft S.
[0052] The barrel 10 may be rotated by being applied with vibration
generated from a motion of the generator 1 by external power or
driving power from driving sources such as wind power and water
power outside the generator 1. However, when the barrel 10 is
non-uniformly applied with the driving power from the outside, the
barrel 10 is also rotated at a non-uniform speed.
[0053] Further, the generator 1 may further include a power
transmitter 40 that transmits the external driving power to the
barrel 10 to rotate the barrel 10.
[0054] The converter 20 may be applied with a torque from the
rotating barrel 10 to rotate the rotation shaft S connected to the
electrostatic generator 30 at a predetermined speed. That is, when
the rotation speed of the barrel 10 is uniform and non-uniform, the
converter 20 may rotate the rotation shaft S at the predetermined
rotation speed to transmit uniform driving power to the
electrostatic generator 30. Therefore, the electrostatic generator
30 may stably produce required electric power.
[0055] In detail, the converter 20 includes a plurality of gear
sets 210, a plurality of connection members 220, a driver 230, a
controller 240, and a sensor unit 250.
[0056] The plurality of connection members 220 are movably coupled
with each other on the barrel 10 and may selectively connect any
one of the plurality of gear sets 210 to the barrel 10. That is,
only any one of the plurality of connection members 220 is coupled
with the gear set corresponding thereto, and thus the torque of the
barrel 10 may be transmitted to the rotation shaft S only through
any one of the plurality of gear sets 210.
[0057] For this purpose, to rotate the rotation shaft S at a
predetermined speed even though the barrel 10 is rotated at a
non-uniform speed, the driver 230 moves any one of the plurality of
connection members 220 to be selectively coupled with any one of
the plurality of gear sets 210.
[0058] Further, the controller 240 may control the driver 230.
[0059] Further, the converter 20 may use the sensor unit 250 to
measure the rotating speed of the barrel 10 or the rotation shaft S
or electric energy generated from the electrostatic generator 30.
The controller 240 may more precisely control the driver 230 to
rotate the rotation shaft S at the predetermined speed on the basis
of the measurement value transmitted from the sensor unit 250.
[0060] The detailed configuration and structure of the generator 1
will be described below.
[0061] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the generator 1 according to
the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 3 is an
exploded perspective view of the generator 1 illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the generator 1 may include a
first case 51 forming an appearance, a second case 52 disposed
within the first case 51, the barrel 10 disposed in the second case
52, the converter 20, the electrostatic generator 30, and the power
transmitter 40. The generator 1 may omit the second case 52 that
encloses the barrel 10, the converter 20, and the electrostatic
generator 30. In this case, the barrel 10, the converter 20, and
the electrostatic generator 30 may be configured to be directly
disposed within the first case 51.
[0063] The power transmitter 40 is disposed within the first case
51 and transmits driving power, which is transmitted from the
outside, to the barrel 10.
[0064] The power transmitter 40 is configured to include a rack
gear 41 and a pinion gear 42 meshed with the rack gear 41.
[0065] The rack gear 41 includes a plurality of teeth 411 disposed
along a longitudinal direction and the rack gear 41 is coupled with
a swing member 431 that movably supports the rack gear 41.
[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the swing member 431 may be
a compression spring having an elastic force and may be configured
in plural to be coupled with both ends of the rack gear 411.
[0067] In detail, the swing member 431 has one end coupled with an
inner wall of the first case 51 and the other end coupled with the
rack gear 41 to be able to connect between the rack gear 41 and the
first case 51.
[0068] Therefore, the rack gear 41 may be connected to the first
case 51 through the movable swing member 431 by the motion of the
generator 1, such that the rack gear 41 may be movably disposed
along a longitudinal direction within the first case 51.
[0069] Therefore, when the generator 1 is shaken or vibrated by an
external force, the rack gear 41 connected to the swing member 431
may reciprocate along a longitudinal direction.
[0070] Further, the generator 1 may include a roller part 60 that
is disposed between one side of the rack gear 41 and the first case
51 to guide a reciprocation of the rack gear 41.
[0071] The roller part 60 may be coupled with the inner wall of the
first case 51 and may include a plurality of rollers 61 disposed
along a longitudinal direction of the rack gear 41 and a plurality
of roller shaft 62 with which the plurality of rollers 61 are
coupled, in which the plurality of roller shafts 62 may be coupled
with a roller support member 63 to be supported on the inner wall
of the first case 51.
[0072] The rack gear 41 reciprocates along a longitudinal direction
by the swing member 431, and therefore it is preferable that the
plurality of roller shafts 62 is vertically disposed to the
longitudinal direction of the rack gear 41.
[0073] The plurality of rollers 61 may support one side surface of
the rack gear 41 and rotate along the reciprocation of the rack
gear 41, thereby guiding the reciprocation of the rack gear 41.
[0074] Therefore, the rack gear 41 may reciprocate along the
longitudinal direction even though the generator 1 is shaken in an
irregular direction by the external force, such that the pinion
gear 42 meshed with the rack gear 41 may be stably rotated.
[0075] The pinion gear 42 rotated by being meshed with the rack
gear 41 reciprocating along the longitudinal direction may be
coupled with one side of the barrel 10 to rotate the barrel 10 and
the electrostatic generator 30 may be driven by the torque of the
barrel 10 to produce electric power.
[0076] The detailed components of the barrel 10, the converter 20,
and the electrostatic generator 30 will be described below.
[0077] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the detailed
components of the barrel 10, the converter 20, and the
electrostatic generator 30 of the generator 1 illustrated in FIG. 3
and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the barrel 10, the
converter 20, and the electrostatic generator 30 of the generator 1
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0078] Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the barrel 10, the
converter 20, and the electrostatic generator 30 of the generator 1
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0079] As described above, the barrel 10, the converter 20, and the
electrostatic generator 30 are disposed within the second case
52.
[0080] The second case 52 may have approximately a cylindrical
shape and the pinion gear 42 coupled with the barrel 10 to apply
the torque to the barrel 10 may partially protrude from an opening
formed at one side of the second case 52 to be meshed with the rack
gear 41.
[0081] Further, the pinion gear 42 and the barrel 10 are connected
to each other by a coupler 421, such that the pinion gear 42 and
the rack gear 41 may be meshed with each other without interfering
with the barrel 10.
[0082] The barrel 10 may have a cylindrical shape to be easily
rotated and may be meshed with the pinion gear 42 by the coupler
421 coupled with any one of a top surface and a bottom surface
having a circular shape. Hereinafter, for convenience of
explanation, in the barrel 10, a surface with which the coupler 421
is coupled is called the top surface, a surface opposite to the top
surface is called the bottom surface, and a surface connecting
between the top surface and the bottom surface is called a side
surface.
[0083] The side surface of the barrel 10 may be provided with slots
11 into which the plurality of connection members 220 described
below are movably inserted. The slot 11 will be described
below.
[0084] As described above, the converter 20 includes the plurality
of gear sets 210, the plurality of connection members 220, the
driver 230, the controller 240, and the sensor unit 250.
[0085] The plurality of gear sets 210 are connected to the rotation
shaft S and includes first to third gear sets 211 to 213 having
different gear ratios.
[0086] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first to third gear
sets 211 to 213 are coupled with the rotation shaft S in parallel
within the barrel 10.
[0087] As a result, any one of the first to third gear sets 211 to
213 having different gear ratios are selectively coupled with the
barrel 10 even though the barrel 10 is rotated at an irregular
rotation speed, such that the rotation speed of the rotation shaft
S may be maintained to be constant.
[0088] For example, the first gear set 211 may have a gear ratio
that may rotate the rotation shaft S at a speed slower than the
rotation speed of the barrel 10, the second gear set 212 may have a
gear ratio that may rotate the rotation shaft S at the same speed
as the rotation speed of the barrel 10, and the third gear set 213
may have a gear ratio that may rotate the rotation shaft S at a
speed faster than the rotation speed of the barrel 10.
[0089] Therefore, if the rotation shaft S is rotated at a speed
faster than a preset reference range, the first gear set 211 may be
connected to the barrel 10 to decelerate the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S and if the rotation shaft S is rotate at a speed
within the preset reference range, the second gear set 212 may be
connected to the barrel 10, and if the rotation shaft S is rotated
at a speed slower than the preset reference range, the third gear
set 213 may be connected to the barrel 10 to accelerate the
rotation speed of the rotation shaft S.
[0090] In detail, the first gear set 211 includes a first sun gear
2111 coupled with the rotation shaft S, a plurality of first
planetary gears 2112 meshed with the first sun gear 2111, and a
first ring gear 2113 meshed with the plurality of first planetary
gears 2112.
[0091] Further, the second gear set 212 includes a second sun gear
2121 coupled with the rotation shaft S and a second ring gear 2122
meshed with the second sun gear 2121.
[0092] Further, the third gear set 213 includes a third sun gear
2131 coupled with the rotation shaft S, a plurality of third
planetary gears 2132 meshed with the third sun gear 2131, and a
third ring gear 2133 meshed with the plurality of third planetary
gears 2132.
[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first to third ring gears
2113, 2122, and 2133 may be an internal gear having the same
diameter and the first sun gear 2111, the first planetary gear
2112, the second sun gear 2121, the third sun gear 2131, and the
third planetary gear 2132 may be configured of a spur gear having
different diameters.
[0094] The plurality of first planetary gears 2112 configuring the
first gear set 211 are rotatably fixed to a first carrier 2112a
that is fixed to an outside of the barrel 10.
[0095] For example, the plurality of first planetary gear 2112 are
rotatably coupled with one end of the first carrier 2112a with
respect to each rotation center and the other end opposite to one
end of the first carrier 2112a may be fixed to the second case 52
by sequentially penetrating through the barrel 10, the coupler 421,
and the pinion gear 42.
[0096] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pinion gear 42, the coupler
421, and the barrel 10 each include a hollow through which the
other end portion of the first carrier 2112a penetrates so that the
first carrier 2112a may be fixed to the second case 52 without
interfering with the rotation of the pinion gear 42, the coupler
421, and the barrel 10.
[0097] As a result, if the first ring gear 2113 is rotated, the
plurality of first planetary gears 2112 may be rotated with respect
to each rotation center. That is, the plurality of first planetary
gears 2112 are fixed to the first carrier 2112a, and thus may not
be revolved along an inner circumferential surface of the first
ring gear 2113 but may be rotated at a fixed position, such that
the first sun gear 2111 may be rotated depending on the gear ratio
of the first gear set 211.
[0098] Further, the plurality of first planetary gears 2112 may
consist of three gears disposed at the same interval and a diameter
of the first planetary gear 2112 may be configured to be smaller
than that of the first sun gear 2111.
[0099] Therefore, if the first ring gear 2113 is rotated, the
plurality of first planetary gears 2112 are rotated and the first
sun gear 2111 meshed with the first planetary gear 2112 is rotated
at a speed slower than the rotation speed of the barrel 10.
Therefore, the rotation shaft S is also rotated at a speed slower
than that of the barrel 10, such that the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S may be decelerated.
[0100] An inner side of the second ring gear 2122 configuring the
second gear set 212 is meshed with the second sun gear 2121. For
example, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inner side of the
second ring gear 2122 may be inserted with the second sun gear
2121, such that the second sun gear 2121 may be rotated at the same
speed as the second ring gear 2122.
[0101] As a result, the second gear set 212 may be configured at a
gear ratio that may rotate the rotation shaft S at the same speed
as the rotating speed of the barrel 10.
[0102] Further, the second sun gear 2121 and the second ring gear
2122 configuring the second gear set 212 may be a disk integrally
formed without a separate mesh structure.
[0103] The plurality of third planetary gears 2132 configuring the
third gear set 213 are rotatably fixed to a third carrier 2132a
that is fixed to the outside of the barrel 10.
[0104] For example, the plurality of third planetary gears 2132 are
rotatably coupled with one end of the third carrier 2132a with
respect to each rotation center and the other end opposite to the
one end thereof is fixed to the second case 52.
[0105] In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the third carrier 2132a
may be coupled with a carrier support member 522 that is extended
toward the rotation shaft S while being coupled with a side surface
of the second case 52.
[0106] As a result, if the third ring gear 2133 is rotated, the
plurality of third planetary gears 2132 may be rotated with respect
to each rotation center. That is, the plurality of third planetary
gears 2132 are fixed to the third carrier 2132a, and thus may not
be revolved along an inner circumferential surface of the third
ring gear 2133 but may be rotated at a fixed position, such that
the third sun gear 2131 may be rotated depending on the gear ratio
of the third gear set 213.
[0107] Further, the plurality of third planetary gears 2132 may
consist of three gears disposed at the same interval and a diameter
of the third planetary gear 2112 may be configured to be larger
than that of the third sun gear 2131.
[0108] Therefore, if the third ring gear 2133 is rotated, the
plurality of third planetary gears 2132 are rotated and the third
sun gear 2131 meshed with the third planetary gear 2132 is rotated
at a speed faster than the rotation speed of the barrel 10.
Therefore, the rotation shaft S is also rotated at a speed faster
than that of the barrel 10, such that the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S may be accelerated.
[0109] Hereinabove, the case in which the plurality of gear sets
210 consist of the first to third gear sets 211 to 213 that
decelerate, maintain, and accelerate the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S corresponding to the rotation speed of the barrel
10 is described by way of example but the present disclosure is not
limited thereto, and therefore the number of gear sets may be
increased and decreased. Meanwhile, when the number of gear sets is
increased, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S may be
controlled more precisely. As such, the plurality of gear sets may
be changed to have various structures that may change the rotation
speed of the rotation shaft S.
[0110] The plurality of connection member 200 may be configured in
plural and includes first to third connection members 221, 222, and
223 that are coupled with the barrel 10.
[0111] The first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 that
are coupled with the barrel 10 may be rotated together depending on
the rotation of the barrel 10 and may be selectively coupled with
the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 to selectively
transmit the torque of the barrel 10 to the first to third ring
gears 2113, 2122, and 2133.
[0112] The first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 are
disposed at positions facing the first to third ring gears 2113,
2122, and 2133. For example, the first to third connection members
221, 222, and 223 may be disposed on the barrel 10 to face each
outer circumferential surface of the third to third ring gears
2113, 2122, and 2133.
[0113] The first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 may
move in a first direction toward the rotation shaft S to be coupled
with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 and moves
in a second direction opposite to the first direction to be
separated from the third to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and
2133.
[0114] The first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 may
have an arch shape that has the same curvature as that of outer
circumferential surfaces of the first to third connection members
221, 222, and 223.
[0115] Further, an outer circumferential surface of the barrel 10
may be formed with the plurality of slots 11 corresponding to the
shapes of the first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223
and the first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 may be
movably inserted into the plurality of slots 11. As a result, the
first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 may move in the
first direction and the second direction on the plurality of slots
11.
[0116] Further, the plurality of slots 11 may be formed with guide
grooves (not illustrated) that guide the movement of the first to
third connection members 221, 222, and 223 in the first direction
and the second direction, each outer surface of the first to third
connection members 221, 222, and 223 is formed with guide
protrusions (not illustrated) that are slidably inserted into the
guide grooves, such that the movement of the first to third
connection members 221, 222, and 223 in the first direction and the
second direction may be accurately guided.
[0117] Further, to prevent the first to third connection members
221, 222, and 223 from being separated from the barrel 10 due to
the movement of the first to third connection members 221, 222, and
223 in the first direction and the second direction, a thickness of
the side surface of the barrel 10 is preferably configured to be
larger than a movement section of the first to third connection
members 221, 222, and 223.
[0118] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the first to third
connection members 221, 222, and 223 are each configured in plural,
and thus may be disposed at the same interval along the outer
circumferential surface of the barrel 10.
[0119] In detail, the first to third connection members 221, 222,
and 223 may each consist of a pair of connection members and are
coupled with the ring gears in the state in which the pair of
connection members are disposed to be symmetrical to each other
with respect to the ring gear, such that the barrel 10 and the
first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 may be more firmly
coupled with each other.
[0120] Further, the first to third connection members 221, 222, and
223 may each include first to third coupling grooves 221G, 222G,
and 223G corresponding to shapes of outer circumferential portions
of the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133.
[0121] As a result, the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and
2133 may be inserted into the first to third coupling grooves 221G,
222G, and 223G, respectively.
[0122] Further, the first to third connection members 221, 222, and
223 each are preferably configured to be higher than heights of the
first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 so that the first to
third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 may be inserted into the
first to third coupling grooves 221G, 222G, and 223G.
[0123] Further, the first to third gear sets 211 to 213 may be made
of a metal material and the first to third connection members 221,
222, and 223 may be made of a urethane material having a large
friction force with metal, such that if the first to third
connection members 211 to 223 move in the first direction, each
outer circumferential portion of the first to third ring gears
2113, 2122, and 2133 may be firmly fitted in the first to third
coupling grooves 221G, 222G, and 223G.
[0124] As a result, the third to third connection members 211 to
223 may each selectively move in the first direction and the second
direction even during the rotation of the barrel 10 to be firmly
coupled with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133,
such that the torque of the barrel 10 may be selectively
transmitted to the first to third gear sets 211 to 213 without
being lost.
[0125] The driver 230 may apply a force to the first to the third
connection members 221, 222, and 223 so that the first to third
connection members may move in the first direction to be coupled
with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 and may
move in the second direction to be separated from the first to
third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133.
[0126] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the first to third connection
members 221, 222, and 223 are configured in plural to be
symmetrically disposed to each other on the barrel 10, the driver
230 may be also configured in plural to apply a force to the first
to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 disposed at one side
of the side surface of the barrel 10 and the first to third
connection members 221, 222, and 223 disposed at the other side of
the side surface of the barrel 10, respectively.
[0127] The configuration and structure of the driver 230 will be
described below in detail.
[0128] The electrostatic generator 30 may generate a voltage by
direct friction charging or a voltage by electrostatic induction
between charged bodies spaced apart from each other and may be, for
example, a direct charging type or indirect charging type
triboelectric nanogenerator.
[0129] In detail, the electrostatic generator 30 includes a first
charging plate 31 that is rotated while coupled with the rotation
shaft S and includes a plurality of first charged bodies 311
disposed on one surface thereof and a second charging plate 32
including a plurality of second charged bodies 321 disposed on one
surface thereof, with the plurality of second charged bodies 321
being disposed to contact or be adjacent to the plurality of first
charged bodies 311.
[0130] The first charging plate 31 may be coupled with the rotation
shaft S to be rotated depending on the rotation of the rotation
shaft S and may be a disk shape.
[0131] The plurality of first charged bodies 311 may be radially
disposed on one surface of the first charging plate 31 and may be
rotated depending on the rotation of the first charging plate
31.
[0132] The second charging plate 32 includes the plurality of
second charged bodies disposed on one surface facing the first
charging plate 31 and the other surface opposite to the one surface
is fixed to the second case 52.
[0133] Therefore, the first charging plate 31 may be rotated by
being connected to the rotation shaft S to rotate the plurality of
first charged bodies 311, and thus the plurality of second charged
bodies 321 disposed to face the plurality of first charged bodies
311 are charged, such that the electrostatic generator 30 may
produce electric power.
[0134] The first charged body 311 and the second charged body 321
described above may produce electric power by the charging
therebetween depending on the rotation. For this purpose, the first
charged body 311 may be made of a metal material and the second
charged body 321 may be made of polymers such as
polydiemethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU),
and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
[0135] Further, the first charged body 311 may be made of a metal
material and metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide,
and silicon oxide and the second charged body 321 may be made of
superconducting materials such as poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF),
poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), tri glycerin
sulphate (TGS), lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and lead stannic
titanate (PST).
[0136] However, the materials constituting the first charged body
311 and the second charged body 321 described above may be
substituted with each other. In addition to the above materials,
the first charged body 311 and the second charged body 321 are
charged by the rotation of the first charged body 311 and thus may
be substituted with various materials capable of produce electric
power.
[0137] FIGS. 6 to 8 are an enlarged cross-sectional view
illustrating an operation of the converter 20 illustrated in FIG.
5.
[0138] As described above, the driver 230 is configured in plural
and thus may each be disposed at both sides of the side surface of
the barrel 10 but the configuration and operation thereof are the
same, and therefore for convenience of explanation, FIGS. 6 to 8
are an enlarged view of only a part of the converter 20.
[0139] Hereinafter, the structure of the converter 20 will be
described in detail with respect to the driver 230 with reference
to FIGS. 5 to 8.
[0140] The driver 230 includes a first driving unit 231 applying a
force to the first connection member 221, a second driving unit 232
applying a force to the second connection member 222, and a third
driving unit 233 applying a force to the third connection member
223.
[0141] The first to third driving units 231 to 232 may each be
disposed to face the first to third connection members 221, 222,
and 223, and first to third pressing members 2311, 2321, and 2331
of the first to third driving units 231 to 233 move in the first
direction to press the first to third connection members 221, 222,
and 223 to couple the first to third connection members 221, 222,
and 223 with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and
2133.
[0142] The first driving unit 231 includes a first pressing member
2311 disposed to face the outer circumferential surface of the
first connection member 221, a first magnet 2312 coupled with the
first pressing member 2311, a first electromagnet 2313 disposed to
face the first magnet 2312 to be able to apply a magnetic force to
the first magnet 2312, a first rod 2314 connecting between the
first pressing member 2311 and the first magnet 2312, and a first
elastic member 2315 disposed between the first pressing member 2311
and the first magnet 2312.
[0143] Further, the second driving unit 232 includes a second
pressing member 2321 disposed to face the outer circumferential
surface of the second connection member 222, a second magnet 2322,
a second electromagnet 2323, a second rod 2324, and a second
elastic member 2325 and the third driving unit 233 includes a third
pressing member 2331 disposed to face the outer circumferential
surface of the third connection member 223, a third magnet 2332, a
third electromagnet 2333, a third rod 2334, and a third elastic
member 2335.
[0144] The structure of the second and third driving units 232 and
233 is the same as the structure of the first driving unit 231, and
therefore the structure of the first driving unit 231 will be
described mainly and the description for the structure of the
second and third driving units 232 and 233 overlapping with the
structure of the first driving unit 231 will be omitted.
[0145] The first pressing member 2311 is disposed to face the first
connection member 221 and disposed to be spaced apart from the
first connection member 221 at a predetermined interval, such that
the first pressing member 2311 may be disposed not to interfere
with the rotating barrel 10 in the state in which the first driving
unit 231 is not operated.
[0146] Further, the first pressing member 2311 may have a shape
corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the first
connection member 221 to easily press the first connection member
221 and may have an arch shape having the same curvature as that of
the outer circumferential surface of the first connection member
221.
[0147] The first pressing member 2311 may be coupled with the first
magnet 2312 and the first pressing member 2311 and the first magnet
2312 may be connected to each other by the first rod 2314.
[0148] In detail, the first rod 2314 may have a cylindrical shape
having a cross sectional area smaller than that of the first
pressing member 2311 and the first magnet 2312 and one end thereof
is connected to a central portion of the first pressing member 2311
and the other end thereof is connected to a central portion of the
first magnet 2312.
[0149] Therefore, if the magnetic force is applied to the first
magnet 2312 by the first electromagnet 2313, the first magnet 2312,
the first rod 2314, and the first pressing member 2311 may move
together.
[0150] Further, the first rod 2314 may be movably inserted into a
driver case 521 that is disposed within the second case 52, and
thus the first pressing member 2311, the first magnet 2312, and the
first rod 2314 may be movably supported to the second case 52.
[0151] In detail, the first electromagnet 2313 and the first magnet
2312 are disposed within the driver case 521, the driver case 521
is provided with a first driving hole (not illustrated) formed
toward the rotation shaft S, and the first rod 2314 may be movably
inserted into the first driving hole.
[0152] Further, the first pressing member 2311 may be coupled with
one end of the first rod 2314 at an outer side of the driver case
521, such that the movement of the first pressing member 2311 in
the first direction and the second direction may be guided by the
first rod 2314 moving along the first driving hole. For this
purpose, it is preferable that a diameter of the first driving hole
is equal to or greater than that of the first rod 2314 and is equal
to or smaller than that of the first pressing member 2311.
[0153] Further, as the first pressing member 2311 moves in the
first direction or the second direction, one surface of the first
pressing member 2311 and one surface of the first magnet 2312 that
face each other interfere with the driver case 521, and thus a
moving distance of the first pressing member 2311 may be
restricted.
[0154] The first electromagnet 2313 is coupled with an
electromagnet support member 2301 fixed to the second case 52 and
is disposed to face the first magnet 2312 within the driver case
521.
[0155] An electric wire (not illustrated) along which a current may
be supplied to the first electromagnet 2313 may be disposed within
the electromagnet support member 2301.
[0156] If a current is applied to the first electromagnet 2313, the
first electromagnet 2313 may apply a magnetic force to the first
magnet 2312 and may form a magnetic force to apply a repulsion or
an attraction to the first magnet 2312 along a direction of
current.
[0157] If the first electromagnet 2313 applies a repulsion to the
first magnet 2312, the first magnet 2312 moves in the first
direction, such that the first pressing member 2311 may press the
first connection member 221.
[0158] As a result, the first connection member 221 and the first
ring gear 2113 may be coupled with each other, and the torque of
the barrel 10 is transmitted to the first gear set 211 through the
first connection member 221 to rotate the rotation shaft S.
[0159] Further, the first elastic member 2315 applying a force to
the first pressing member 2311 is disposed between the first
pressing member 2311 and the first magnet 2312 so that the first
pressing member 2311 moving in the first direction returns to the
second direction.
[0160] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, the first elastic member
2315 may be a compression spring disposed to enclose the first rod
2314, and the first elastic member 2315 may be supported to the
driver case 521 while being disposed between the first magnet 2312
and the driver case 521 to apply an elastic force to the first
magnet 2312, which moves in the first direction, in the second
direction.
[0161] As described above, if the magnetic field applying a
repulsion to the first magnet 2312 is formed by applying a current
to the first electromagnet 2313, the first magnet 2312 moves the
first pressing member 2311 in the first direction, and thus the
first connection member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 are
coupled with each other.
[0162] For this purpose, it is preferable to apply a current to the
first electromagnet 2315 so that the repulsion applied to the first
magnet 2312 by the first electromagnet 2313 is larger than the
elastic force applied in the second direction of the first elastic
member 2315.
[0163] If the first connection member 221 and the first ring gear
2113 are coupled with each other, the current applied to the first
electromagnet 2315 is interrupted, and thus the magnetic field
applied to the first magnet 2312 is released and the first magnet
2312 and the first pressing member 2311 coupled therewith move in
the second direction by the elastic force of the first elastic
member 2315 to return.
[0164] As a result, by instantly applying a current to the first
electromagnet 2313 and then interrupting the current, the first
pressing member 2311 may return to the second direction immediately
after moving in the first direction to press the first connection
member 221 and may prevent the first pressing member 221 from
interfering with the rotating barrel 10. As a result, electric
energy used to operate the first electromagnet 2313 may also be
minimized.
[0165] As described above, the configuration of the second driving
unit 232 and the third driving unit 233 are the same as that of the
first driving unit 231, and the second connection member 222 of the
second driving unit 232 may be pressed by the second pressing
member 2321 to be coupled with the second ring gear 2122 and the
third connection member 223 of the third driving unit 233 may be
pressed by the third pressing member 2331 to be coupled with the
third ring gear 2133.
[0166] Further, when any one of the first to third connection
members 221, 222, and 223 move in the first direction, the driver
230 includes a seesaw member 234 that moves the rest two connection
members in the second direction.
[0167] The seesaw member 234 may include a first seesaw member
2341a pivotably connected to the first and second connection
members 221 and 222 and a second seesaw member 2341b pivotably
connected to the second and third connection members 222 and
223.
[0168] The first seesaw member 2341a may apply a force to the other
of the first and second connection members 221 and 222 in a
direction opposite to a direction of a force applied to any one of
the first and second connection members 221 and 222 and the second
seesaw member 2341b may apply a force to the other of the second
and third connection members 222 and 223 in a direction opposite to
a direction of a force applied to any one of the second and third
connection members 221 and 222.
[0169] In detail, the first seesaw member 2341a may move the second
connection member 222 in the second direction by a principle of
lever if the first connection member 221 moves in the first
direction by the repulsion of the first electromagnet 2313 and may
move the first connection member 221 in the second direction if the
second connection member 222 moves in the first direction by the
repulsion of the second electromagnet 2323.
[0170] Further, the second seesaw member 2341b may move the third
connection member 223 in the second direction by the principle of
lever if the second connection member 222 moves in the first
direction by the repulsion of the second electromagnet 2323 and may
move the second connection member 222 in the second direction if
the third connection member 223 moves in the first direction by the
repulsion of the third electromagnet 2333.
[0171] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, a first seesaw shaft 2342a
supporting a central lower portion of the first seesaw member 2341a
may be disposed between the first connection member 221 and the
second connection member 222.
[0172] One end of the first seesaw member 2341a may be pivotably
connected to the first connection member 221, and for example, a
protrusion 2211 formed at the first connection member 221 may be
inserted into a long hole formed at one end of the first seesaw
member 2341a and thus one end of the first seesaw member 2341a may
be pivotably connected to the first connection member 221.
[0173] Further, the protrusion 2221 formed at the second connection
member 222 may be inserted into a coupled hole formed at the other
end of the first seesaw member 2341a, and thus the other end of the
first seesaw member 2341a may be pivotably connected to the second
connection member 222.
[0174] Therefore, when the first pressing member 2311 moves in the
first direction and thus the first connection member 221 moves in
the first direction, one end of the first seesaw member 2341a moves
in the first direction and the other end of the first seesaw member
2341a moves in the second direction with respect to the first
seesaw shaft 2342a and thus the second connection member 222
connected to the other end of the first seesaw member 2341a moves
in the second direction.
[0175] By doing so, if the first magnet 2312 is applied with the
repulsion by applying a current to the first electromagnet 2313,
the first pressing member 2311 may move in the first direction to
press the first connection member 221, such that the first
connection member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 may be coupled
with each other.
[0176] Further, the first connection member 221 moves in the first
direction and at the same time the other end of the first seesaw
member 2341a moves in the second direction, and thus the second
connection member 222 moves in the second direction, such that the
second connection member 222 and the second ring gear 2122 may be
separated from each other.
[0177] Again, if the second magnet 2322 is applied with the
repulsion by applying a current to the second electromagnet 2323,
the second pressing member 2321 may move in the first direction to
press the second connection member 222, such that the second
connection member 222 and the second ring gear 2122 may be coupled
with each other.
[0178] Further, the second connection member 222 moves in the first
direction and at the same time one end of the first seesaw member
2341a moves in the second direction, and thus the first connection
member 221 moves in the second direction, such that the first
connection member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 may be separated
from each other.
[0179] As such, when any one of the first and second connection
members 221 and 222 moves in the first direction through the first
seesaw member 2341a, the other of the first and second connection
members 221 and 222 may move in the second direction
simultaneously, and only any one of the first and second connection
members 221 and 222 may be coupled with the first and second ring
gears 2113 and 2122 to transmit the torque to the rotation shaft
S.
[0180] Further, a second seesaw shaft 2342b supporting a central
lower end portion of the second seesaw member 2341b may be disposed
between the second connection member 222 and the third connection
member 223.
[0181] One end of the second seesaw member 2341b may be pivotably
connected to the third connection member 223, and for example, a
protrusion 2213 formed at the third connection member 223 may be
inserted into a long hole formed at one end of the second seesaw
member 2341b and thus one end of the second seesaw member 2341b may
be pivotably connected to the third connection member 223.
[0182] Further, the protrusion 2221 formed at the second connection
member 222 may be inserted into a coupled hole formed at the other
end of the second seesaw member 2341b, and thus the other end of
the second seesaw member 2341b may be pivotably connected to the
second connection member 222.
[0183] Therefore, when the third pressing member 2331 moves in the
first direction and thus the third connection member 223 moves in
the first direction, one end of the second seesaw member 2341b
moves in the first direction and the other end of the second seesaw
member 2341b moves in the second direction with respect to the
second seesaw shaft 2342b and thus the second connection member 222
connected to the other end of the second seesaw member 2341a moves
in the second direction.
[0184] By doing so, if the third magnet 2332 is applied with the
repulsion by applying a current to the third electromagnet 2333,
the third pressing member 2331 may move in the first direction to
press the first connection member 223, such that the third
connection member 223 and the third ring gear 2133 may be coupled
with each other.
[0185] Further, the third connection member 223 moves in the first
direction and at the same time the other end of the second seesaw
member 2341b moves in the second direction, and thus the second
connection member 222 moves in the second direction, such that the
second connection member 222 and the second ring gear 2122 may be
separated from each other.
[0186] Again, if the second magnet 2322 is applied with the
repulsion by applying a current to the second electromagnet 2323,
the second pressing member 2321 may move in the first direction to
press the second connection member 222, such that the second
connection member 222 and the second ring gear 2122 may be coupled
with each other.
[0187] Further, the second connection member 222 moves in the first
direction and at the same time one end of the second seesaw member
2341b moves in the second direction, and thus the third connection
member 223 also moves in the second direction, such that the third
connection member 223 and the third ring gear 2133 may be separated
from each other. Further, as described above, the second connection
member 222 moves in the first direction and at the same time one
end of the first seesaw member 2341a also moves in the second
direction, such that the first connection member 221 and the first
ring gear 2113 may be separated from each other.
[0188] As such, any one of the second and third connection members
222 and 223 moves in the first direction through the second seesaw
member 2341b, and thus the other of the second and third connection
members 222 and 223 may move in the second direction
simultaneously, such that only any one of the second and third
connection members 222 and 223 may be coupled with the second and
third ring gears 2122 and 2133 to transmit the torque to the
rotation shaft S.
[0189] The coupling of the first to third connection members 211,
222, and 223 with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and
2133 may be selectively switched only by the simple operation using
the foregoing seesaw member 234.
[0190] Further, the foregoing driver 230 may be controlled by the
controller 240.
[0191] In detail, the controller 240 may control any one of the
first to third connection members 221, 222, and 223 to be connected
to the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133 by applying a
current to any one of the first to third electromagnets 2313, 2323,
and 2333 to form the magnetic field.
[0192] Further, the converter 30 may include the sensor unit 250
and the sensor unit 250 may include a plurality of sensors sensing
the operation state of the generator 1.
[0193] The electrostatic generator 30 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure produces electric power by the
rotation of the first charging plate 31 connected to the rotation
shaft S, and therefore it is preferable to make the rotation speed
of the rotation shaft S constant to continuously produce constant
electric power that a user requires.
[0194] However, the barrel 10 rotated by being applied with the
driving power from the outside may be rotated at an irregular
speed, and therefore the driver 230 is controlled by the controller
240 and the sensor unit 250 to maintain the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S at a constant speed, thereby stably producing
constant electric power through the electrostatic generator 30.
[0195] In detail, the sensor unit 250 may include a first sensor
(not illustrated) measuring the rotation speed of the rotation
shaft S.
[0196] The first sensor may measure the rotation speed of the
rotation shaft S in real time and the controller 240 may control
the driver 230 to rotate the rotation shaft S at a constant speed
depending on the measured rotation speed of the rotation shaft
S.
[0197] Further, the sensor unit 250 may further include the second
sensor (not illustrated) measuring an output voltage of the
electrostatic generator 30 and the controller 240 may control the
driver 230 to control the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S
depending on the output voltage measured by the second sensor.
[0198] Further, the sensor unit 250 may further include a third
sensor measuring the rotation speed of the barrel 10 and may
control the driver 230 to rotate the rotation shaft S at a constant
speed depending on the measured rotation speed of the barrel
10.
[0199] The control of the driver 230 by the controller 240 and the
sensor unit 250 will be described below in more detail.
[0200] Hereinafter, the control of the driver 230 and the operation
of the driver 230 by the controller 240 and the sensor unit 250
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.
[0201] When the generator 1 is shaken at an irregular speed by the
external force, the rack gear 41 also reciprocates at an irregular
speed, and therefore the pinion gear 42 and the barrel 10 connected
to the pinion gear 42 are also rotated at an irregular speed.
[0202] At this point, when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft
S measured by the first sensor is rotated faster than the preset
reference speed, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 240 may
apply a current to the first electromagnet 2313 to apply the
repulsion to the first magnet 2312, such that the first connection
member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 may be coupled with each
other.
[0203] As described above, the first gear set 211 may decelerate
the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S and thus the first
connection member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 are coupled with
each other, such that the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S
may be decelerated within the preset reference speed.
[0204] By doing so, the rotation speed of the first charging plate
31 rotated by the rotation shaft S is also changed to the preset
reference speed to control the produced electric energy to be
within the preset range using the electrostatic generator 30.
Further, when the first connection member 221 moves in the first
direction, the second connection member 222 may move in the second
direction to be separated from the second ring gear 2122.
[0205] Further, the output voltage of the electrostatic generator
30 may be measured by the second sensor.
[0206] When the output voltage of the electrostatic generator 30
measured by the second sensor is higher than the preset reference
voltage, the controller 240 may couple between the first connection
member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 to decelerate the rotation
speed of the rotation shaft S, such that the voltage output from
the electrostatic generator 30 may be lowered to be included in the
preset range.
[0207] By doing so, the magnitude of the electric power generated
from the electrostatic generator 30 may be maintained within the
predetermined range that the user requires.
[0208] Further, when the rotation speed of the barrel 10 is
measured by the third sensor and the rotation speed of the barrel
10 is rotated faster than the preset reference speed, the
controller 240 may apply a current to the first electromagnet 2313
to apply the repulsion to the first magnet 2312, such that the
first connection member 221 and the first ring gear 2113 may be
coupled with each other.
[0209] Therefore, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S may be
changed slower than the rotation speed of the barrel 10 and the
rotation speed of the rotation shaft S may be controlled to be
within the preset range.
[0210] Thereafter, when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S
measured by the first sensor is rotated within the preset reference
speed range, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the controller 240 may apply
a current to the second electromagnet 2323 to apply the repulsion
to the second magnet 2322, such that the second connection member
222 and the second ring gear 2122 may be coupled with each
other.
[0211] As described above, the second gear set 212 may maintain the
rotation speed of the rotation shaft S at a constant speed and
therefore the second connection member 222 and the second ring gear
2122 are coupled with each other, such that the rotation speed of
the rotation shaft S may be maintained at the preset reference
speed.
[0212] Further, the second connection member 222 moves in the first
direction and at the same time the first connection member 221 also
moves in the second direction by the first seesaw member 2341a and
thus the first connection member 221 may be separated from the
first ring gear 2113.
[0213] Further, the second connection member 222 moves in the first
direction and at the same time the third connection member 223
moves in the second direction by the second seesaw member 2341b and
thus the third connection member 223 may be separated from the
third ring gear 2133.
[0214] Further, when the output voltage of the electrostatic
generator 30 measured by the second sensor is included in the
preset reference voltage, the controller 240 may couple between the
second connection member 222 and the second ring gear 2122 to
constantly maintain the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S,
such that the voltage output from the electrostatic generator 30
may be maintained.
[0215] Further, when the rotation speed of the barrel 10 is
measured by the third sensor and the rotation speed of the barrel
10 is included in the preset reference speed, the controller 240
may couple between the second connection member 222 and the second
ring gear 2122 using the driver 230 and maintain the rotation speed
of the rotation shaft S to be within the preset range.
[0216] Further, when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S
measured by the first sensor is slower than the preset reference
speed, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the controller 240 may apply a
current to the third electromagnet 2333 to apply the repulsion to
the third magnet 2332, such that the third connection member 223
and the third ring gear 2133 may be coupled with each other.
[0217] As described above, the third gear set 213 may accelerate
the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S and thus the third
connection member 223 and the third ring gear 2133 are coupled with
each other, such that the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S
may be accelerated at the preset reference speed.
[0218] Further, the third connection member 223 moves in the first
direction and at the same time the second connection member 222
moves in the second direction by the second seesaw member 2341b and
thus the second connection member 222 may be separated from the
second ring gear 2122.
[0219] Further, when the output voltage of the electrostatic
generator 30 measured by the second sensor is lower than the preset
reference voltage range, the controller 240 may couple between the
third connection member 223 and the third ring gear 2133 to
accelerate the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S, such that
the voltage output from the electrostatic generator 30 may be
increased.
[0220] Further, when the rotation speed of the barrel 10 is
measured by the third sensor and the rotation speed of the barrel
10 is slower than the preset reference speed, the controller 240
may couple between the third connection member 223 and the third
ring gear 2133 using the driver 230 and accelerate the rotation
speed of the rotation shaft S to the preset range.
[0221] The control of the driver 230 by the controller 240 as
described above may be performed in real time together with the
sensing by the sensor unit 250.
[0222] That is, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S, the
output voltage of the electrostatic generator 30, or the rotation
speed of the barrel 10 are measured in real time by the sensor unit
250 and the controller 240 may control the driver 230 to
selectively couple the first to third connection members 221, 222,
and 223 with the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133
depending on the value measured in real time by the sensor unit
250, such that the rotation speed of the rotation shaft S may be
maintained to be constant and the electric power produced through
the electrostatic generator 30 may also be maintained to be
constant.
[0223] The foregoing driver 230 may apply the repulsion to the
first to third magnets 2312, 2322, and 2332 through the first to
third electromagnets 2313, 2323, and 2333 to move the first to
third pressing members 2311, 2321, and 2331 in the first direction
and at the same time separate the first to third connection members
221, 222, and 223 coupled with the first to third ring gears 2113,
2122, and 2133 using the first and second seesaw members 2341a and
2341b. By doing so, the electric energy required to operate the
driver 230 may be minimized.
[0224] Further, the driver 230 may include first to third solenoids
each coupled with the first to third pressing members 2311, 2321,
and 2331, such that the first to third pressing members 2311, 2321,
and 2331 may individually move in the first and second
directions.
[0225] In addition, the configuration of the driver 230 may be
replaced by various configurations that the driver 230 may be
selectively coupled with the first to third connection members 221,
222, and 223 and the first to third ring gears 2113, 2122, and 2133
and it is preferable to minimize the electric power required to
operate the driver 230 to be smaller than the electric power
produced through the electrostatic generator 30.
[0226] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile device
1000 including the generator 1 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0227] The mobile device 1000 may be a wearable device put on a
user's body and for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, may be a
smart watch that may be put on a user's wrist.
[0228] However, the mobile device 1000 including the generator 1
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may
be electronic devices such as a smart phone, a notebook, a wireless
earphone, and a tablet PC in addition to the smart watch and for
convenience of explanation, FIG. 9 illustrates that the mobile
device 1000 is the smart watch, by way of example.
[0229] Referring to FIG. 9, the mobile device 1000 may include a
main body 1001 including a battery (not illustrated) and the
generator 1 may be disposed in the main body 1001.
[0230] A display 1002 that may display a screen may be disposed in
the main body 1001 of the mobile device 1000 and the display 1002
may further include a touch input (not illustrated) that senses a
touch input of a user.
[0231] The generator 1 may be connected to the battery of the main
body 1001 to transmit the electric power produced through the
electrostatic generator 30 to the battery, thereby charging the
battery.
[0232] For example, the smart watch 1000 coupled with the user's
wrist may be shaken by a motion of a user to make the rack gear 41
of the generator reciprocate to thereby rotate the pinion gear 42,
such that the barrel 10 is rotated to drive the electrostatic
generator 30.
[0233] Further, the generator 1 may be directly connected to a
printed circuit board on which a plurality of electronic components
within the main body 1001 is mounted, thereby directly transmitting
electric power to a plurality of electronic components.
[0234] The generator 1 is preferably configured to have a size
enough to be disposed within the mobile device 1000, the size of
the generator 1 may be changed depending on a kind and a size of
mobile device 1000 with which the generator 1 is coupled, and the
magnitude of the electric power produced by the generator 1 is also
changed variously.
[0235] As described above, the converter 20 controls the rotation
speed of the rotating shaft S constantly, and thus the
electrostatic generator 30 of the generator 1 may constantly
produce a voltage within the preset range that the user
requires.
[0236] The voltage within the preset range may be set to be a
minimum voltage value that maintains a power supply of the mobile
device 1000 even though the battery of the mobile device 1000 is
discharged, such that the use time of the mobile device 1000 may be
extended.
[0237] Further, the battery may be continuously charged by
continuously applying the preset voltage to the battery even though
the battery is not discharged, and therefore the use time of the
mobile device 1000 may be extended.
[0238] As such, the generator 1 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled with the mobile
device 1000, thereby producing the electric power using the
movement of the generator 1 by the user as the driving power.
[0239] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a generator 2 according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 11
is an exploded perspective view of the generator 2 illustrated in
FIG. 10.
[0240] Hereinafter, the generator 2 according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0241] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the generator 2 includes the
barrel 10, the converter 20, the electrostatic generator 30, an
impeller 70, a third case 80, and an impeller support part 90.
[0242] Among the components of the generator 2 according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of
the barrel 10, the converter 20, and the electrostatic generator 30
is the same as that of the generator 1 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 9, and therefore the overlapping description thereof
will be omitted. Therefore, the difference from the generator 1
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described mainly.
[0243] The barrel 10, the converter 20, and the electrostatic
generator 30 are disposed within the third case 80.
[0244] The impeller 70 may include a pair of blades 71 and an
impeller shaft 72 coupled with the pair of blades 71 and one end of
the impeller shaft 72 may be connected to the barrel 10 through the
coupler 421.
[0245] Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the third case
80 may be coupled with the impeller support part 90 that supports
the impeller 70.
[0246] The impeller support part 90 includes ring parts 91 that
have approximately a ring shape to be coupled with the third case
80 and a rotation support part 92 to which the other end of the
impeller shaft 72 is rotatably supported.
[0247] The impeller 70 is rotatably disposed between the ring parts
91 and may be rotated with respect to the impeller shaft 72 by
applying driving power such as external wind power and water power
of the generator 2 to the pair of blades 71. As a result, the
barrel 10 may be rotated and the electric power may be produced
through the electrostatic generator 30.
[0248] Further, the plurality of first planetary gears 2112
configuring the first gear set 211 may be rotatably coupled with
one end of a first carrier 2112a' and as illustrated in FIGS. 10
and 11, the other end opposite to one end of the first carrier
2112a' sequentially penetrates through the barrel 10, the coupler
421, and the impeller shaft 72 to be extended along the
longitudinal direction to be fixed to the rotation support part 92.
As a result, if the first ring gear 2113 is rotated, the plurality
of first planetary gears 2112 may be rotated with respect to each
rotation center.
[0249] The foregoing structure of the impeller 70 may be changed to
various conventional propeller structures that may be rotated
depending on the external wind power and water power, and thus the
structure of the impeller support part 90 may also be changed
variously.
[0250] The generator 2 according to another exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure may rotate the rotation shaft S at a
constant speed by the converter 20 even though the external wind
power or water power moves irregularly and thus the impeller 70 is
rotated irregularly. Therefore, the constant electric power may be
uniformly produced through the electrostatic generator 30.
[0251] Further, the generator 2 may be configured to have various
sizes. For example, the generator 2 is configured to have the same
size as the existing large wind generator, thereby uniformly
producing large-capacity electric power.
[0252] Further, the generator 2 may be manufacture at a size enough
to be attached to a bicycle or an outside of a vehicle, and thus
uses air resistance of the bicycle or the vehicle as driving power
to uniformly produce electric power.
[0253] In addition, the generator 2 may be coupled with the mobile
device such as an action cam widely used recently, and thus uses
the air resistance depending on the motion of the user as the
driving power, thereby producing the uniform electric power.
[0254] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a
vehicle 2000 with which the generator 3 according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled and FIG.
13 is an exploded perspective view of the generator 3 illustrated
in FIG. 12.
[0255] Hereinafter, a generator 3 according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
[0256] Among the components of the generator 3 according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of
the barrel 10, the converter 20, and the electrostatic generator 30
is the same as that of the generator 1 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 9, and therefore the overlapping description thereof
will be omitted. Hereinafter, the difference from the generators 1
and 2 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure will be described mainly.
[0257] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the generator 3 according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be
coupled with the vehicle 2000 to contact a wheel W of the vehicle
2000 to be directly applied with a torque from the wheel W, thereby
driving the electrostatic generator 30.
[0258] In detail, in the generator 3, the barrel 10, the converter
20, and the electrostatic generator 30 are configured in plural and
the plurality of barrels 10, converters 20, and electrostatic
generators 30 may be coupled and supported to a generator support
member 2100.
[0259] The generator support member 2100 may include a ring part
2101 to which the plurality of barrels 10, converters 20, and
electrostatic generators 30 are fixed and a plurality of fixed
parts 2012 coupled on the plurality of ring parts 2101, in which
the plurality of fixed parts 2102 are coupled with the vehicle 2000
and thus the generator 3 may be fixed to the vehicle 2000.
[0260] Each coupler 421 of the plurality of barrels 10 is coupled
with a plurality of friction rollers 42' contacting the wheel
W.
[0261] The friction roller 42' may be applied with a torque from
the rotating wheel W to rotate the barrel 10 and may preferably be
made of a metal material to increase a friction force with the
wheel W made of a rubber material.
[0262] Further, the plurality of friction rollers 42' may be
disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the wheel W at a
predetermined interval.
[0263] Further, the generator support member 2100 is coupled with a
suspension (not illustrated) of the vehicle 2000 and thus may move
corresponding to the movement of the wheel W depending on the
driving of the vehicle 2000, such that the friction roller 42' may
continuously contact the outer circumferential surface of the wheel
W upon the driving of the vehicle 2000.
[0264] Further, the plurality of barrels 10, converters 20,
electrostatic generators 30, and friction rollers 42' may each
disposed within a plurality of fourth cases 52' and the fourth case
52' includes an opening opened to contact the friction roller 42'
with the wheel W.
[0265] By doing so, if the wheel W of the vehicle 2000 is rotated,
the plurality of friction rollers 42' contacting the outer
circumferential surface of the wheel W are rotated, and thus the
plurality of barrels 10 may be rotated, such that the plurality of
electrostatic generators 30 may be driven to produce the constant
electric power.
[0266] The electric power produced by the generator 3 according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be used
as an auxiliary power supply for various electronic devices within
the vehicle 200 and the electric power may be transmitted to the
battery of the vehicle 200 to charge the battery.
[0267] The generators 1 to 3 according to various exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure as described above may be
applied to the foregoing mobile device, various devices using
electric power in addition to the vehicle, or the like and may
constantly supply the uniform electric power to various
devices.
[0268] The generators 1 to 3 according to various embodiments of
the present disclosure use energy existing around the generators 1
to 3 as driving power to produce the uniform electric power, and
therefore has an advantage in the utilization of energy and the
environment.
[0269] Hereinabove, various exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure are individually described, but each exemplary
embodiment need not necessarily be implemented alone and therefore
the configurations and operations of each exemplary embodiment may
also be implemented in combination with at least one other
exemplary embodiment.
[0270] Although the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the
accompanying claims. Accordingly, such modifications, additions and
substitutions should also be understood to fall within the scope of
the present disclosure.
* * * * *